POM Wonderful Presents The Greatest Movie Ever Sold DVD Review

Rating: M
Released by Madman Home Ent

Fresh from supersizing and looking for bin Laden, Morgan Spurlock returns with this doco looking at product placement within the media world.

He decides to make a doco which will be entirely funded by product placement as well as exposing the industry for what it's worth.

Yet another playful piece with a semi serious message as Spurlock takes on the corporate world and wrestles with the argument of whether he's selling out or cashing in. Clearly,he is doing a little of both but you can't help but question at what level he's being compromised as a doco maker for the foreseeable future.

Full of energy, humour and the continual shock factor of whatever it takes to get the film made,Spurlock's clearly revelling in it and so is the audience.

Quick cuts,laugh out loud moments and a reasonably interesting insight give this the feel for what it needs but it's as superficial as the industry itself and a good 90 minutes out.

A polished film which is riotously good fun, this film is a surefire hit .

Extras: Spurlock interview, trailer - not too much

Rating:

Safe House Movie Review

Safe House

Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Denzel Washington, Brendan Gleeson, Vera Farmiga, Robert Patrick.

Director: Daniel Espinosa

In action thriller Safe House, Reynolds plays CIA low level agent Matt Weston, who's been based at a South African safe house for over a year and never seen any action.

Desperate to move on and join his girlfriend who's being transferred to France, Weston is waiting for his time to come - despite secretly longing to see some serious CIA kick ass action.

And he gets that wish one day when ex CIA agent and general all round intelligence trader, Tobin Frost (a grizelled Denzel Washington) walks into an American embassy to avoid being killed by a group hunting him.

Unaware of his motives, CIA bosses Catherine Linklater (Farmiga) and David Barlow (Gleeson), transfer Frost to Weston's safe house with instructions to guard him - and wait for the powers that be to turn up and find out exactly what Frost wants.

However,when the safe house is breached and all the agents bar Weston and Frost killed, it's upto this rookie wannabe to safe guard Frost and get him to safety....

But, as ever, not everything is what it seems and soon Weston is out of his depth and fighting for his life.

Safe House is an unusual film - on the one hand, it's got car chases and plenty of (very loud) gun fights and measured chase sequences - but on the other, it's got some pretty impressive performances.

Primarily from a never anything less than edgy and calm Washington as the agent who's playing all sides but never prepared to show his hand and to a lesser degree, Reynolds, who manages to pull together a role of uncertainty, fear and blustering bravado - as well as show he can act when he needs to. Unfortunately, while Gleeson gets a little time to shine as well, Farmiga is a little underused and overshadowed in this - which is a real shame.

Safe House is a thrilling, adrenaline pumping film but it's also restrained at times with director Espinosa opting for realism rather than explosions and body parts flying all over the place. The shoot outs are short, violent and gritty - and the hand to hand fights (particularly with Weston) are desperate, realistic and painful.

It's this touch which makes the occasionally predictable film so watchable (how many times can the bad guys be the people you suspect they are) - plus with a South African setting - slums, streets and stadium - for the lion's share of the action, it looks a little different.

Throw in the odd couple pairing of Washington and Reynolds and Safe House is a bit of a crackling and sizzling cat-and-mouse but occasionally formulaic ride which will tick all the action boxes but not leave you feeling like your brain's leaking out of your nose due to too much of a lack of stimulation.

Rating:

Jane Eyre: Blu Ray Review

Rating: M

Released by Universal Home Ent

Alice in Wonderland's Mia Wasikowska (Alice in Wonderland) stars as Jane Eyre in this adaptation of Charlotte Bronte’s romance from 1847, co-made with the BBC and looking all the more lavish for it.

Michael Fassbender stars as Mr Rochester, alongside Judi Dench as Mrs Fairfax and Jamie Bell.

For the uninitiated, Jane Eyre, a poor orphan is sent to Thornfield Hall to work as the governess and ends up gradually falling for Fassbender’s Mr Rochester – who harbours a secret.

But it’s not as simple as that as we see her childhood in flashbacks and how she was abused by her school and family.

Sure, it’s a slowish film – which with a period drama like this isn’t a bad thing as it gives you an adaptation to wallow in . With beautiful costuming and attention to period detail – along with some truly bleak and yet stunning countryside from the North of England.

There’s a spooky atmosphere to start off with too – an ominous feel as she’s locked in a room with a fireplace in and you get a fright when smoke comes out the chimney –and there's also a couple of frights when a bird leaps out of the screen too – those in charge play on the whole make you jump moments as it’s a calm, quiet film with hardly any OST.

Wasikowska is quite good at getting the character and making her feel realistic – she does feel detached and is in keeping with the era; whereas Fassbender is moody, scowly and snappy. It's all about the tone rather than the words which is sometimes better for big screen outings of major books.

Lingering shots, sumptuous costumes and brilliant locations add to the feel of this film and a reminder that period drama is still being made well and is worth anyone's time.

Extras Deleted scenes, docos, commentaries

Rating:

Star Wars - Episode One - The Phantom Menace 3D Movie Review

Star Wars: Episode One – The Phantom Menace – 3D

Cast: Ewan McGregor, Liam Neeson, Natalie Portman, Jake Lloyd, Ian McDiarmid

Director: George Lucas

So, the Lucasfilm cash cow finds another avenue to use the Force for financial income.

With marketing posters splashing the word 3D everywhere, it’s clear that this is another chance to enjoy the saga in a re-versioned form.

For those who’ve forgotten the Phantom Menace, it’s the story of how a trade routes war forces two Jedi Knights, Qui-Gon Jinn (Neeson) and Obi Wan (McGregor) into negotiations on behalf of Naboo and its oppressed inhabitants.

But their intervention uncovers a wider conspiracy and a return to darker times as evil forces rally…

It’s fair to say that Star Wars: Episode One – The Phantom Menace – 3D isn’t the best of the franchise, but this re-release signals the fact Lucasfilm’s polishing up the rest of the series for a 3D release, which, to be frank, many fans will be excited for.

The 3D in this – is to be honest, a little hit and miss.

Sure, the opening space scenes and dogfights benefit from a greater depth – but there’s little new to add to a film which was made 12 years ago with improved CGI. Maybe the powers that be have gone for a more subtle approach with the re-versioning with a few tweaks here and there that aren’t radically noticeable (though it’ll be interesting to see what the original series, made in the 1970s, looks like in 3D) and won’t set your world alight.

The Jedi fights with Darth Maul have a bit more life and depth though with this rendering; but it has to be said, 3D or not, Jar Jar Binks is still incredibly annoying.

Interestingly enough, I think there will be another generation of fans who will flock to watch this simply because they’ve never seen it on the big screen; and sure, it’s fair to say, confused story aside, this is still an iconic film and sounds sensational with its stunning score.

But in terms of whether it’s better for the 3D re-release, to my mind, I don’t think so – the pod racing sequence is still breathtaking and while it may have a little more depth, it has nothing majorly new to offer - regardless of whether more debris is flying out of the screen.

Ultimately though, I think the Star Wars fans should have the say on this - Darrin, a die hard Star Wars fan, father of two Star Wars fans and somewhere in his 40s, and his 18 year old son Connor. We also had 12 years young Jackson along too, but he's missing somewhere in space after the whole experience.

Darrin rates the 3D transfer 2 stars out of 5 - and while he loved the whole experience of Star Wars back on the big screen and the sound, felt it was a little lacking in spectacle. "It was a pleasure seeing the film on the big screen, with the movie sound system. The 3D was a bonus attachment to the movie but not the driving force to go and see it."
He says if you want to see the movie because it's in 3D, don't go but adds: "If you want to see it because you've never seen it on the big screen, it's a must."
Connor goes for a 2 1/2 stars, saying: "The 3D looks cool, but the main attraction here was not seeing the digitally remastered Star Wars, it was seeing Star Wars on the big screen - for the first time in the case of some. The 3D certainly looked impressive, but since the Phantom Menace is still a reasonably modern movie made with cutting edge tech, it couldn't add too much.  One notable big improvement was the perception of space, which appeared with far more depth and on the big screen certainly carried a certain sense of vastness that wasn't as evident in 2D."

Somewhat perceptively he adds: "The original trilogy will, in my opinion, do far better at the box office because of the vast pool of middle aged fanboys who want their sons and daughters to be as obsessed with Star Wars as they were and because with such old SFX, the transfer to 3D will be far more noticeable."

Jackson (12) has probably watched the Phantom Menace about 30 times, but always on the small screen. He says the chance to watch it on a big screen was more attractive than the 3 D element.
Unlike Avatar, in which he says the 3D was great to the end. Seeing it in the theatre was brilliant though, and he'd go and watch other Star Wars films at the cinema. Best thing was the sound, which shook the place. 3D was "horrible" though in his view...

Overall average rating from the guest reviewers and die hard fans for the 3D:

The Artist: Movie Review

The Artist

Cast: Jean Dujardin, Berenice Bejo, John Goodman, James Cromwell, a cute dog (played by Uggie)

Director: Michel Hazanavicius

So, here it is then – the black and white silent film which has entranced the voters of the Academy and netted itself 10 Oscar nominations – which is no surprise given the production notes to said film describe it as: “ a heartfelt and entertaining valentine to classic American cinema.”

The year is 1927 and the place is Hollywoodland. Jean Dujardin (OSS 117) is the crème and toast of the town as silent actor and star of Kinograph Studios,  George Valentin, whose pencil thin moustache, general antics with his dog and derring do on the silent big screen regularly enthral audiences.

On the premiere of his latest film, Valentin meets Peppy Miller (Berenice Bejo) when she’s thrust onto the red carpet via a series of mishaps.

The next day Variety’s full of who that girl is next to it guy Valentin – and gradually with a little guidance from Dujardin (and also because of a little attraction), Peppy begins to get bigger parts.

However, the wind of change is blowing through the industry as the idea of the talkies begin to arrive on the screen – and before Valentin knows it, his Hollywood star is on the severe decline – while Peppy’s willingness to embrace the change means she’s on the up….

But will Valentin grasp the opportunity or slide into obscurity?

 

It’s easy to see why the Academy’s fallen for this nostalgic and charming piece – it’s a slice of old school film and something which doesn’t come around every day thanks to the world of CGI and effects.

At the heart of this though – and it’s a nagging thought many will have – is it worth 10 Oscar nominations?

There’s a lot of subtle and laugh out loud humour in this film – from cute dog antics to a slice of old school slapstick; and there’s certainly plenty of heart, pathos and sadness as Valentin begins his slide out of Hollywoodland’s favour.

Wonderfully shot, stunningly evocative of the era and a superb soundtrack (which all good silent films need) bring a real sense of old school Hollywood vividly to life, which is no bad thing at all.

Dujardin is great and captivating as he mugs his way through the role of a silent film actor (as they were wont to do in that era); and Bejo is certainly a beautifully attractive presence up on the screen and the duo have a great chemistry (as well as acting form in prior outings).

Sure, it’s a Hollywood piece celebrating Hollywood’s past (and that may be why Oscar’s come a-knocking and critics are loving it) but the Artist is old school cinematic joy for anyone who’s loved a moment out to the cinema. It doesn’t harm it that it’s lit up by two very impressive presences and a story which is engaging, charming and outright funny.

Don’t be put off by the plaudits and afraid of the fact it’s got Oscar buzz – experience it for yourself and see why this crowd pleaser is one of the unlikeliest winners of the year.

Rating: 

Brand new Amazing Spiderman trailer unveiled.

Holy webslingers, Spidy's back this year.

And a new extended trailer's dropped overnight for the flick starring Andrew Garfield and current it girl, Emma Stone.

Take a look below...



The Amazing Spiderman hits cinemas from July 4th...

Johnny English Reborn: Blu Ray Review

Rating: PG
Released by Universal Home Ent

Rowan Atkinson returns as the special agent Johnny English in the sequel to the 2003 flick which saw disaster given a new face of bumbling ineptitude.
When we first see English, he's in a Tibetan monastery trying to recover some sense of self worth after a disastrous mission he headed up in Mozambique ended up with the death of a president.

But when a plot to assassinate the Chinese premier is revealed, MI7, realizing their contact will only talk to English, is forced to recall him into service.

And so it appears Johnny English is the only person who can save the day - if he can pull his act together.

So a strong contender for one of the worst, most predictable films of the year emerges.

Johnny English Reborn feels like a throwback in so many ways; the gags are predictable and at times cringeworthy; in the monastery, English stands the opposite way to all the other monks during a work out; in an MI7 office, he falls off an inflatable back support ball and in a hidden base, he leaps around in a body bag only to jump into a wall. If you like that kind of humour, then this is the film for you.

Granted, these kinds of jokes were the sort of thing British film used to do some 20 years ago - and while nostalgia's a good thing, the relative lack of any kind of sophistication  here feels like an insult to today's audiences.

In fairness, Atkinson, channeling his deadpan rubbery face, gives it his all and even manages a few laughs here and there - but even he can't save the averageness of the script from rising up and swamping everything on screen. However, I will concede there will be some who will enjoy this film - the awkwardness and deadpan is worked to maximum effect here but after a while, it starts to grate.
Extras: Deleted and extended scenes, gag reel,commentary

Rating: